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As we’re sure you’re aware, buying or leasing a truck is a huge investment. Many truckers, use most or all of their savings to purchase their vehicle.

Now, what would happen if your truck was damaged, stolen, or totaled in an accident? Would you have enough money to cover the repairs or replace the truck? What would it mean to your livelihood?

Are you certain your truck insurance is adequate to keep you financially secure if the worst were to happen? 

These are all scary questions, but they’re also real possibilities.

Getting Proper Insurance for Your Truck

The good news is that you can protect yourself from most damages your truck may incur with physical damage truck insurance. If you have a loan on your truck or you lease your truck, physical damage insurance is probably required. But even if you own your truck outright, you’ll want to consider physical damage insurance to protect your investment (and your livelihood).

2 Types of Physical Damage Truck Insurance

There are two different parts to physical damage truck insurance: collision insurance and comprehensive insurance. Collision Insurance pays for damages incurred if your truck collides with another vehicle or object. In the event of a collision, collision insurance will pay to repair or replace your truck. Comprehension Insurance pays for other types of damage your truck may incur, such as vandalism, theft, collision with an animal, glass breaking, fire, and more.

Physical Damage Insurance Considerations

Here are some important things to consider when shopping for physical damage truck insurance:

1. Stated Amount - You will need to provide the stated amount – your best estimate of the value of your truck – if you are adding comprehensive insurance. The stated amount should be based on the make and model of your truck, mileage, upgrades, and comparable sales data. The stated amount will have a big impact on how much you pay in premiums, so it’s a good idea to work with a good insurance agent to determine the proper value.
   
   
2. Actual Cash Value - The amount you will receive on a physical damage truck insurance claim is based on the Actual Cash Value (ACV) of your truck, which means the market value of your truck. Unlike personal lines of insurance, replacement values are not available for commercial policies.
   
   
3. Deductibles - One way to reduce your premiums is to increase your deductible. You should determine a dollar amount that you would be comfortable paying in the event of a claim.
   
   
4. Endorsements – There are certain things that a basic trucking physical damage policy may not cover, that an endorsement will. Endorsements you may want to consider are a single deductible for your truck and trailer, personal belongings coverage, electronic equipment coverage and a rental truck while your vehicle is getting repaired or replaced.

Let's Talk About Your Truck Insurance

Protect your truck and your livelihood with physical damage insurance by giving American Insuring Group a call at (800) 947-1270 or (610)775-3848 or contact us online to learn more about both collision and comprehensive insurance for your truck.

We specialize in PA Truck Insurance, so whether you are in Philadelphia, Reading, Allentown, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Erie or elsewhere, we'll find you the best deal on insurance. That's because our independent insurance agents are free to shop and compare lots of competing insurance quotes, so you can count on getting great coverage at a great price.  

Contact us today!

The EOC looks at nearly 90,000 Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) claims every year, and the average cost of each case is $450,000.

If you own a restaurant, you’ve probably worked hard to build strong relationships with your staff and create an environment conducive to teamwork. If you’re lucky, you’ve found the magical formula that balances friendliness with professionalism, and you’re proudly watching as your well-oiled team creates and delivers delicious food to your customers. You and your staff may even feel like a big happy family.

But even happy families disagree and face irreconcilable differences. It happens all the time. Sometimes they can work through it, and sometimes they can’t. The same is true for employees.

Employment Issues Are 30% of Civil Litigations

The Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) reports that employment issues make up 30% of all civil litigations in the U.S., which makes the likelihood of an employment claim against an employer higher than a property or general liability claim. And employment practices liability risks can begin the moment you interview someone.

Employment litigation claims can have a severe financial impact on a restaurant, even forcing them out of business if they do not have adequate insurance.  According to the Society for Human Resource Management, 67% of all employment cases that go to litigation result in a judgment for the plaintiff.

Larger companies tend to protect themselves against employment claims with employee policies and procedures and EPLI, but many small restaurant owners do not, and 41% of all EPLI claims are made against employers with only 15 to 100 employees.

Common EPLI Issues For Restaurants

Common issues for which a good EPLI policy can help protect your restaurant include:

• Sexual harassment
• Discrimination in hiring practices
• Wrongful termination
• Defamation of character
• Emotional distress
• Invasion of privacy
• Failure to promote

How to Protect Your Restaurant From Employment Practices Liability Risk

• Research employment laws that apply to your business.
• Create an employee handbook with detailed policies and procedures that guide you through hiring, disciplining, and terminating employees. Include policies and procedures regarding attendance, discipline, and complaints; an employment-at-will statement and an equal employment opportunity statement.
• Create job descriptions for each position that clearly defines the skills and performance expected from someone hired for that position.
• Include an equal employment opportunity statement and an employee-at-will statement on your job
• Conduct background checks on candidates.
• Conduct and document periodic performance reviews of all employees.
• Create a zero-tolerance policy regarding discrimination, substance abuse, and harassment.
• Conduct an insurance review with your insurance agent to ensure that you have adequate EPLI

What You Should Know About Employment Practices Liability Insurance

The cost of EPLI coverage is determined by factors such as the number of employees you have, the percentage of employee turnover, and if you have established practices and procedures in place. EPLI may be offered as an endorsement to your Business Owner’s Policy, General Liability Policy, or as a stand-alone policy. It usually covers the cost of defending your restaurant against the charges and any damages you are ordered to pay.

Contact Us for a Free Insurance Review

Don't take chances with your restaurant business - you've worked too hard to get to where you are today. Be sure you are properly covered for every liability.

For a FREE REVIEW of your liability insurance, contact American Insuring Group online or call us (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848.

The U.S. has one of the safest food supplies in the world, but foodborne illness still sickens 76 million people, causes 325,000 hospitalizations, and results in 5,000 deaths in the U.S. each year, according to the CDC.

If you own a food transporatation business, then you need to understand government regulations that can affect your trucking insurance needs and that you acquire proper truck insurance to cover your unique needs.

In 2011, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the most far-reaching reform of our food safety laws in seventy years, was signed into law. The goal of FSMA is to prevent contamination – as opposed to responding to contamination - and it gives the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new authority to regulate the way food is grown, harvested, processed, and transported.

If you are a food transportation company with revenues over $500,000, the most important thing you need to understand about FSMA is the Sanitary Food Transport Act (SFTA), which took effect on March 31, 2017.

New Requirements for Trucking Company Vehicles

SFTA established requirements for trucking company vehicles, equipment, operations, records and training for shippers, loaders, motor and rail carriers, and receivers involved in transporting human and animal food. The focus is on the use of sanitary and temperature control practices.

SFTA defines requirements around the following:

• Vehicles and Transportation Equipment – The vehicles used to transport food must be designed and maintained to ensure that they don’t cause the food to become contaminated. For example, vehicles must be kept in a sanitary condition, and handwashing facilities must be available at loading/unloading stations.
  
  
• Transportation Operations – Every measure must be taken to ensure that food is not contaminated in transit. For example, storage compartments must be pre-cooled and have a temperature monitoring device when transporting refrigerated items and measures need to be made to ensure that ready-to-eat food doesn’t touch raw food and that non-food items (in the current or a previous load) don’t contaminate food.
  
  
• Training – Carrier personnel need to be trained in sanitary transportation practices, and that training needs to be documented.
  
  
• Records – A log of temperature conditions throughout the transportation must be kept for at least 12 months.

Liability Questions for Trucking Firms

FSMA and SFTA have raised many liability questions. For example, what happens if a receiver rejects all or part of a motor carrier’s food shipment because of an FSMA violation even if the product did not sustain damage? Who is responsible for the disposal of the shipment? Who is responsible for a mechanical breakdown that results in an FSMA violation?

Protect Your Trucking Business With The Right Insurance - Call Today 

FSMA is just one government-imposed regulation that can affect your business, so it’s important that you have the right type of trucking insurance to cover your unique needs.

For a review of your insurance policy and to get the best price on quality trucking insurance for your business, contact American Insuring Group online or call us at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848.

Recently, I learned of a book called Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die. It refers to a phenomenon called “the curse of knowledge,” which states that “when we know something, it becomes hard for us to imagine not knowing it.

As a result, we become lousy communicators.”

This “curse” often affects individuals who work with the workers’ compensation insurance claim process, which can be quite complicated – especially to an injured worker who has never filed a claim.

Here are 5 Common Questions an Injured Worker May Have When Filing a Workers Comp Claim

1. How and when will I get paid, and how much 
   will I get paid?

If the case is determined to be compensable (which usually takes a week or two to a month or so), the injured employee will receive a check (which is typically about 66-80% of their net pay) either by mail or direct deposit every week or two. A payment from Workers Comp is not taxable income, so the employee will not receive a W2 for this payment.

2. What physician can I go to?

This can vary by jurisdiction, but generally after a certain period of time, the injured employee can go to his or her primary care physician, and usually, the first appointment will be paid for by the insurance company handling the claim. Whether or not they can continue with their primary care physician will be determined by two things: 1) if the adjuster authorizes it and 2) if the doctor accepts workers compensation patients.

3. Why isn’t my adjuster more attentive?

Just because the adjuster doesn’t return a call immediately, it doesn’t mean that the injured worker isn’t important to them. Most adjusters handle hundreds of workers compensation cases at the same time – all at different stages in the process and all of varying complexity. Advise your employee to try to be patient and give the adjuster a day or two to return the call; however, if they’ve left several messages and a few days go by, suggest that they call and ask for a supervisor. Every adjuster is obligated to return calls from the cases they are handling and can incur penalties or fines if they fail to return calls within a reasonable amount of time.

4. Can a light duty job pay less than my regular job?

Yes, it can, but the insurance carrier will take the reduced wages the injured employee earns and issue a supplemental check for the difference. That amount can vary depending on the jurisdiction the claim is made in.

5. Should I contact an attorney?

Only the injured employee can answer this question. They can speak with a lawyer without filing a lawsuit against their employer, and if talking with a legal professional helps put them at ease, then they should do so.

Don't Assume - Think Before You Communicate About Workers Compensation Claims

Don’t fall prey to “the curse of knowledge.” Remember that this may be the first and only time an employee files a workers compensation insurance claim, and they may have questions. Do your best to answer their questions, and when in doubt, reach out to his or her adjuster for clarification.

Are You Paying Too Much for PA Workers Compensation Insurance? We Can Help!

To learn more about saving on workers compensation insurance, contact American Insuring Group online or call at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848. Our independent agents will compare policies from competing insurers to find the best insurance at the best price. Call or click today to start saving.

Distracted Driving may result in accidents that increase the cost of your car insurance.

It has probably been around since the first person sat behind the wheel of a Model T Ford in 1908. But as life seems to have hit break-neck (no pun intended) speed and multi-tasking has become a part of daily living, distracted driving has become the norm rather than the exception. And, of course, the number of deaths caused by teen texting has brought distracted driving to the forefront.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines distracted driving as “driving while doing another activity that takes your attention away from driving.” That activity could be texting, eating, or even changing the radio station. The CDC defines three main types of distractions: Visual: taking your eyes off the road; Manual: taking your hands off the wheel; and Cognitive: taking your mind off of driving. The bottom line is that distracted driving is dangerous.

Distracted Driving Statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving took the lives of 3,477 people in 2015 alone. “Each day in the United States, over eight people are killed and 1,161 injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver,” the CDC says. “In 2013, nearly one in five crashes (18%) in which someone was injured involved distracted driving.” The NHTSA reports that “teens were the largest age group reported as distracted at the time of fatal crashes.”

Many states and government entities have put laws into place to help decrease distracted driving caused by texting and cell phone use, but the effectiveness of these laws is still unclear, so it’s up to you as a driver and a parent to decrease driving distractions.

Talk to Your Teen Drivers About the Risks and Costs of Distracted Driving

As a parent, you should talk to your teens about good driving habits, the responsibilities that come with driving and the consequences distracted driving can cause, including not only their safety, but their accident history and the cost impact on their future automobile insurance rates. And the best way to teach them… lead by example and never drive distracted.

Safe driving requires your full attention, and most distractions are avoidable; although some do take a little bit of planning and self-control. It’s up to you to take control and eliminate distractions so that you can focus on the road.

Here are 5 Tips to Avoid Distracted Driving

1. Concentrate on the road and your driving. This tip may seem overly simple and obvious, but many - if not most - of us need to be reminded of this every once in a while.
   
   
2. Prepare for driving. Set your GPS, music, seats, mirrors, etc. before you put your car into drive. Also, eat and get dressed (yes, even your lipstick) before you get on the road.
   
   
3. Store loose gear, possessions, and other distractions out of sight, so you aren’t tempted. Only use cell phones in emergencies and NEVER text, email, or use the internet while driving.
   
   
4. Make sure all children and pets are secure before setting out.
   
   
5. If you need to attend to any activity – making a phone call, eating, taking care of a child, etc. - other than driving, pull off the road somewhere safe.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) says, “As a general rule, if you cannot devote your full attention to driving because of some other activity, it’s a distraction. Take care of it before or after your trip, not while behind the wheel.”

Get The Best Auto Insurance At The Best Rates Right Here

Nobody should pay more than they need to for quality car insurance. As independent agents, we're free to shop among lots of competing auto insurance providers to get you the right PA car insurance at a great price whether you're in Reading, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Allentown, Pittsburgh, Erie or beyond! So contact American Insuring Group online or call us at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848.

No one wants to pay more for business or homeowners insurance than they need to, but everyone wants to ensure that that have the right coverage to protect their family and their possessions. It can be tricky to determine whether you need flood insurance. As you may know, standard homeowners and renters insurance policies do NOT cover flood damage.

If you’re in a designated flood zone, the purchase of flood insurance should be a no-brainer, and your lender will probably require flood insurance in that case. But what if you don’t live along a river or by the sea, and you’re far from a designated flood zone? That’s where it gets a little trickier.

Flooding: The Most Common and Costly Natural Disaster

Something to keep in mind: in the US, flooding is the most common and the most costly natural disaster, costing billions of dollars every year. The five most significant flood events in Pennsylvania (based on National Flood Insurance Program Payouts) include Superstorm Sandy in October 2012, Hurricane Ike in September 2008, Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, Hurricane Irene in August 2011, and Tropical Storm Allison in June 2001. 

Additionally, flooding isn’t always caused by overflowing rivers or out-of-control oceans. It can also be caused by melting snow, an overflowing creek, or water running down a steep hill. As FEMA states, “Just a few inches of water can cost thousands of dollars in damage to a home.”

If you do decide to purchase flood insurance, there are two types of coverage you need to understand:

Building Coverage covers the repair or replacement of the building. This includes the foundation, electric, plumbing, central air, furnaces, water heaters, refrigerators, stoves, and built-in appliances. Basic building coverage is available for up to $250,000 for residential and up to $500,000 for commercial.

Contents Coverage covers the contents of your home like furniture, clothing, electronic equipment, smaller appliances, etc. Basic contents coverage is available up to $100,000 for residential and up to $500,000 for commercial.

Please keep in mind that you can  purchase an Excess Flood Policy if you need more coverage than what’s available in the basic plans. You should also understand replacement costs – the amount you the insured will receive in the event of a loss.

Replacement Cost Value (RCV) is the cost to repair or replace the insured item at the time of the loss. There is no deduction for physical depreciation. The insurer is paid the amount required to replace the insured item (up to the limit). RCV is available when the insured property is the primary residence, and the amount of coverage is equal to 80% or more of the replacement cost of the building.

Actual Cash Value (ACV) is the cost to repair or replace the insured item, less the physical depreciation at the time of the loss. The depreciation is based on the age and the condition of the item. The contents of your property are always paid at ACV.

One more thing to keep in mind: With flood insurance, there is a 30-day waiting period before the coverage goes into effect, so don’t wait until you hear about a flood warning on the morning news to add flood insurance to your business or homeowners insurance policy.

Contact Us for Flood Insurance or Any Type of Insurance You May Need

American Insuring Group can help you determine if you flood insurance is right for your home or business.

And, regardless of what type of personal or business insurance you may need, we'll help you save because our independtent agents are free to shop among many competing carriers to find the right insurance protection at a great price.  

So contact us online or give us a call at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848 to learn more.

Reviewing defense attorneys and panels should be done on an ongoing basis because choosing the wrong workers compensation defense attorney for your business can cause missed opportunities, unnecessary litigation costs, and time. Just because you’ve built a relationship with one attorney doesn’t make him or her the best choice to defend your workers compensation insurance claim.

You can start by looking at an attorney’s reputation, but you also need to find someone with workers compensation experience and a familiarity with your industry and someone who meets the objectives of your program.

So what should you look for in a good workers compensation defense attorney?

1. Outside-the-box Thinker
There are a lot of different ways to handle a workers comp claim, so first you need to look for someone who can think outside the box. Yes, they need to understand the basics and be able to evaluate the situation based on criteria related to the statute and be able to interpret the case law. But they also need to be able to look at the claim from different angles to develop the right strategies to resolve your case. You want someone who will consider all potential defenses, analyze how each of those defenses may play out, and develop creative solutions to complex problems.

2. Honest Assessments
It’s important to understand that the workers compensation system is inherently biased toward the employee, which means that most cases that go to court will end in an award to the employee. A good WC attorney will understand that and only recommend taking cases to court that you have a chance of winning. Otherwise, they should recommend settling on those cases that there is little chance of winning and make sure that those settlements are fair. You want your case to be resolved as quickly and fairly as possible.

3. Excellent Communication
This may seem obvious, but it is often overlooked. First, you’ll want an attorney that asks you lots of questions and takes the time to understand your industry, your business (including what your employees do), and your goals. You’ll want an attorney who responds quickly to your inquiries and provides regular updates that include an honest analysis of the claim, detailed information about their “plan of attack,” and status reports.

Here are 9 questions to ask before hiring a workers compensation defense attorney:

1. Do they also handle claims for employees?

2. Are they open to an in-depth interview before hiring?

3. Can they provide references from other clients who you can contact – preferably in your industry?

4. Do they have experience in hearings before the Board/Commission?

5. Do they have a thorough understanding of workers compensation laws and administrative regulations in Pennsylvania?

6. Do they have an in-depth understanding of statutes that can affect workers compensation claims such as social security disability and vocational rehabilitation?

7. What is their fee structure?

8. How will they bill you – monthly, quarterly, yearly?

9. Are they willing to provide you with copies of deposition transcripts, expert reports, Board/Commission decisions, and medical reports?

Contact Us to Lower Your Workers Compensation Insurance Costs

Having the right defense attorney for your workers comp claims will save you time and frustration and help you save money on your workers compensation insurance.

To find the right workers comp insurance for your business at the right price, contact American Insuring Group online, or call us at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848 to get started.

Do you ever wonder how trucking insurance rates may be affected by driverless cars and trucks? Will there be less accidents due to driver error, or more accidents due to compurter error?

Imagine driving along the highway and glancing into the cab of an 18-wheeler as you pass it; you see the “driver” sitting back, relaxing, and looking down at his iPad, drinking a cup of coffee, and completely ignoring the road and the cars around him. Don’t panic! Hopefully, you’ve just witnessed a driverless (Aka autonomous) truck. No, this is not a scene from the Jetsons. It is a very real possibility.

The First Licensed Self Driving Semi Truck

In 2015, Daimler introduced the world’s first licensed self-driving semi called the Freightliner Inspiration. “The Freightliner Inspiration is a limited take on autonomy. The system will kick in only once the truck’s on the highway and up to speed, and then it will maintain a safe distance from other vehicles and stay in its lane. It won’t change lanes to pass slower vehicles on its own. If the truck encounters a situation it can’t confidently handle, like heavy snow or faded lane lines, it will alert the human that it’s time for him to take over,” according to Wired. While it’s true that the world isn’t quite ready for an autonomous truck, it is not outside the realm of possibility within our lifetime.

Truck Driver Shortages

Nearly 70 percent of the country’s freight is moved by truck, according to the American Trucking Association (ATA), and that number is expected to increase by 24 percent by 2022. As the amount of freight being shipped by trucks increases, the number of drivers continues to decrease. Currently, there is a shortage of nearly 48,000 truck drivers, which experts say may increase to almost 240,000 by 2023. So you can see why trucking companies may be intrigued by the idea of driverless vehicles.

Trucking Insurance Company Concerns

Commercial trucking insurance companies are also keeping their eye on driverless trucks. In the US, 330,000 large trucks were involved in crashes that killed nearly 4,000 people (most were in passenger cars) in 2012. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 90% of accidents are caused by driver error. Eliminate risk factors like drunk driving, distracted driving, or falling asleep at the wheel, and claims payouts and premiums could go down drastically – at least in the short term.

In the long-term, there are still issues that vehicle manufacturers, fleet owners, and insurers need to  address. For example, a computer-operated driverless truck would be susceptible to hackers, which could include terrorists or others with malicious intent. What if an autonomous truck is involved in an accident? Whose fault is it? The truck owner or the vehicle manufacturer or the driver (if there is one in the truck)? Determining who is liable for an accident could become difficult, especially in the event of product recalls or faulty equipment.

When Will Driverless Trucks Become the Norm?

The truth is: the U.S. isn’t quite ready for a driverless truck. First, there’s a ten-year testing phase. Daimler has said, “It won’t be market-ready for a decade, and could never replace human drivers.”

But more importantly, U.S. infrastructure isn’t ready for it. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the US infrastructure grade for 2013 was a D+. Roads received a D. The government would need to invest millions of dollars to upgrade the infrastructure of three million miles of road to support driverless vehicles. According to Economic Analysis of Transportation US roads have poor markings and uneven signage, traffic lights that are aligned vertically, horizontally or “doghouse” style in two columns, and pavement markings with different degrees of reflectivity. These are issues that can make it difficult for driverless technology to adapt.

Economic Impact

There is also the issue of industries that rely on truckers’ business such as highway motels, gas stations, diners, and truck stops. Remove the drivers, and you remove their customers. The U.S. economy could be significantly affected by the replacement of drivers with machines. It will be interesting to watch how far and how quickly technology will change the trucking industry. In particular driverless trucks. 

Driverless or Not, We Have You Covered! Contact Us for the Best Truck Insurance Rates.

Regardless of where the trucking industry goes in terms of driverless trucks, you can trust Amercican Insuring Group to provide smart insurance protection at a great price.

As independent agents we're free to shop among lots of competing insurance carriers. That means you'll get the best rate on quality insurance. To learn more about trucking insurance, contact us online or call us at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848.

When people think of homeowner's insurance the first thing that often comes to mind is fire in the home. We can’t think of many scenarios that are scarier than a home fire. Fire can spread very quickly. In just two minutes, a fire can become life-threatening. In five minutes, a residence can be engulfed in flames.

There’s an estimated $7.3 billion in property loss due to home fires each year. More importantly, more than 2,500 people die, and 12,600 people are injured in fires every year.

Most fires occur in the kitchen. Other common causes include carelessly discarded cigarettes, sparks from fireplaces, and heating appliances that are too close to furniture and other combustibles.

Heat and smoke are often more dangerous than flames. Breathing in super-hot air can sear your lungs, and poisonous gasses produced by a fire can make you disoriented and drowsy. More fire deaths are caused by asphyxiation than burns (a three-to-one ratio).

The good news is that home fires are preventable, but you need to be aware of potential hazards, and you need to be diligent about eliminating those risks. As a bonus, you'll reduce the likelihood of a homeowners insurance claim and potentially lower your long term house insurance costs.

Here are five tips to prevent fires and help keep your family, your home, and your possessions safe from fire

1. Cooking
   Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking. Create a 3-foot “kid-free zone” around your stove. Keep outside grills at least 10 feet from siding and deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
   
   
2. Portable space heaters
   Keep combustible objects at least three feet away from portable heaters and only use heaters that have been evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Before purchasing a kerosene heater, check on the legality of a kerosene heater with your local fire department.
   
   
3. Fireplaces and woodstoves
   Inspect and clean fireplaces and woodstoves annually. Use a fireplace screen and make sure the fire is completely out before leaving the house or going to bed.
   
   
4. Smoking
   If you smoke, do it outside (especially if oxygen is used inside the house) and make sure your cigarettes are completely extinguished in an ashtray or can filled with sand. Soak butts and ashes in water before placing them in a trash can.
   
   
5. Electrical
   Use products that have been evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Check for and replace worn or damaged cords, and never try to force a three-prong plug into a two-slot outlet. Don’t overload extension cords or wall sockets.

A few more practical tips

Finally, check your smoke detectors and replace the batteries regularly. A simple way to remember to check them is to do it in the spring and fall when we change our clocks for Daylight Saving Time.

You should also have a professional inspect your home - electric wiring, plumbing (gas), heating, and air conditioning – regularly for potential hazards.

You may also want to consider installing a fire alarm system and a home sprinkler system that can help detect and extinguish fires even if you aren’t home.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” couldn’t be truer than when you’re protecting your home and family from fire. To learn more about fires and how to prevent them, go to https://www.ready.gov/home-fires. 

For related information on protecting your home, see our blog post: How to Recover Quickly From Water Damage.

Avoid Regrets - Get a Free Homeowners Insurance Checkup

Your home is your castle and the source of many fond memories. Don't take a chance with your safety or your memories. Contact American Insuring Group online or give us a call at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848 to review your home owner’s policy.

We're experts at finding the right policy at the right price by searching for you among many competing insurance providers. Contact us today to start saving and for your peace of mind.

Our homes are becoming “smarter”! That's a good thing, right? Yes, you proably have homeowner's insurance but have you considered non-traditional threats to your privacy and data in the home?

PCMagazine poses the intriguing question, “What if all the devices in your life could connect to the Internet? Not just computers and smartphones, but everything: clocks, speakers, lights, doors, cameras, windows, window blinds, hot water heaters, appliances, cooking utensils, you name it.

And what if those devices could all communicate, send you information, and take your commands? It's not science fiction; it's the Internet of Things (IoT), and it's a key component of home automation and smart homes.” 

This is awesome, right? Well… yes and no. Consider the following:

New Risks: Your Smart Home and the Internet of Things

As consumers add more and more IoT devices to their homes (a 2015 Gartner study estimates that approximately 5.5 million IoT devices are added to homes around the world every day), experts anticipate the number of attacks also to increase. In fact, in October 2016, hackers took over 100,000 IoT devices and used them to block traffic to well-known websites, including Twitter and Netflix.

This doesn’t mean that you need to forego the latest IoT device that becomes available; it means that you need to be smarter than ever about protecting yourself from Cyber Risk in the home.

To be precise, the actual IoT devices themselves do not contain your personal identity information - so they are not the security risk directly. The risk is that once they are working, they are often “forgotten” and rarely updated or monitored, if at all. If a hacker should find a way to compromise them, they could be used as a pathway to infiltrate your home. Once inside, a hacker could eavesdrop on your network for any unprotected information passing within it or possibly gain access to other devices that do contain your personal information such as computers, smart phones, and tablet devices.

Here are 5 steps to help you protect your home from a cyber attack

1. Use proper software
   At the very least, you should have antivirus and malware software on your computers, smartphones, and tablets. You should also turn off unwanted or unused features and stay on top of firmware. And finally, when using a public Wi-Fi (like in an airport or coffee shop), use a virtual private network (VPN).
   
   
2. Protect your privacy with a good password
   Regularly changing your password and using different sophisticated passwords is one of the quickest and easiest ways to protect yourself from cyber-attacks. If your device has a two-factor authentication - such as a fingerprint and a password - turn it on.
   
   
3. Consider privacy concerns vs. benefits before purchasing a smart device
   Before purchasing a smart device, ask yourself if it will really enhance or simplify your life or if you just want it because it’s a snazzy new device that no one else has yet. Then, decide if it’s worth potentially giving up some of your privacy.
   
   
4. Be selective when purchasing smart home devices
   When deciding which smart home devices to purchase, chose from well-known brands whenever possible and find out what security measures they are taking to protect your data. This is still a relatively new issue, so do some research. Find out which manufacturers are talking about security and being proactive in communicating how they’re delivering that security to you.
   
   
5. Install a firewall
   This may seem obvious, but do you have a quality, up-to-date firewall in your home? If you are not sure then consult a local provider and installer of routers and request an in-home review.
   
   

2 steps to blunt the impact of a cyber attack

Even if you take all the responsible preventative meaures, cyber attacks can sometimes occur. Here are two things you can do to lessen the impact:

1. Sign Up for Identity Protection
   Do you have an identify protection policy? There are various plans available with varying levels of monitoring and assistance should your identity be stolen. 
    
2. Freeze your credit
   If you won’t be using your credit anytime soon, contact each of the credit bureaus individually, and ask them to temporarily freeze your credit. There is a form on each credit bureau’s site to do that. If you find you need to procure a loan, it takes about ten days to unfreeze your credit, and it’s a fairly easy process.
   
   

Home cyber threats are real

The fact is that there are cyber criminals out there ready to steal your information and wreak havoc. Although nothing is guaranteed to protect you from these criminals, following these measures will make it harder for those criminals to hack into your IoT devices.

For related information on cyber insurance for your business read our blog post: Combat Data Breaches with Cyber Liability Insurance.

Contact Us for All Your Insurance Needs

Are you sure your homeowner's policy offers the right amount of protection at a good price? Do you need cyber insurance for your business? 

Contact American Insuring Group online or give us a call at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848 for a free and thorough homeowner's insurance review. You'll be glad you did!